Quick and Easy campfire

ABSTRACT

A quick and easy to use campfire, fueled by portable bottles of propane gas connected thru a variable high-pressure regulator that is used to adjust the fireball size. The burner assembly is a round tube used as a manifold and bent in an annular shape using the size and location of the orifices to produce the shape, activity and texture of the campfire flame. The aluminum windscreen provides a base, with folding legs, that holds the burner, and providing a protective wind buffer for the flames. The windscreen also provides a reflective heat shield for the resting surface located under the legs, and is used to dissipate the internal heat for quick cooling.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The Field of this Invention

[0001] Relates to the field of portable campfires. More particularly toportable campfires that utilize propane or natural gas for fuel, and donot use any logs, fillers, or water to defuse the gas. This invention isto replace the ambiance, light, and heat of a traditional wood campfire.

[0002] The present invention uses a specially designed burner to producea flame ball that has the color, look and flame action that will createthe appearance of a wood campfire. This device is to be used as asubstitute quick and easy no mess portable replacement for a wood fire,for heat, for light, for ambiance, and for cooking. The outdoor campingexperience, for most people, is not complete without a fire. The fire isan integrals part of space heating, lighting, and Food preparation.There are many compressed gas alternatives to a wood fire for cooking,the problem is, that the flames are designed for maximum heat and areblue in color and smaller than a normal wood fire. There are a couple ofalternatives for campfire replacement. For example U.S. Pat. Nos.6,289,887 and 6,227,843 and 5,901,697 and 6,192,881, all usefiller/buffer material and /or artificial logs and / or water to defusethe gas and shape the fireball. Since most users watch the fire and notthe logs, the logs cause unnecessary problems by using this inventionsburner it is possible to achieve a “wood campfire” look without thedefusing material. The defusing systems cause problems in portability(because of loose material, heat retention and carbon buildup) and arerelatively large because of the artificial logs, there is a built inlimit in available BTU's of heat because the artificial logs retain andconcentrate the heat inside of the device and increases the cooling timeneeded before the device can be packed. The burners that are designed tobe use in cooking are not effective in replacing the esthetics of a woodfire, and the burners that replace the wood fire aesthetics are notefficient for cooking. With the State and Federal regulations thatcontrol and curtail the use of normal wood fires because of fire safety,in drought conditions and/or fire pit ash and litter around waterwaysand lakes, there is getting to be a large need for Quick, safe, packable, no-trace, and ecologically sound fire replacement device. Thisinvention is light (under 6 lbs), quickly cooling (Pack able in under 10minutes), compact (Legs fold for storage), and has no loose parts.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a quickand easy to use campfire replacement device.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that is simple to use.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that is easy to manufacture.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that cools quickly.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that is small and light for easy transportation and set up.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that produces heat.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that produces light.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that is usable in “Leave no trace” camping situations.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to make a portablecampfire that is usable during fire restriction periods.

[0012] Many desirable aspects are inherent in using pressurized gas as afuel source, such as, no sparks, and no smoke.

[0013] The present invention “quick and easy campfire, fueled byportable bottles of propane gas connected thru a variable high-pressureregulator that is used to adjust the fireball size. The regulator isattached thru a flexible hose to the burner assembly. The burnerassembly consists of a galvanized pipe bent in to a 12-inch circle withan input aperture connected to the flexible hose and a plug in theterminating end. The burner assembly must be adequately sized to reducethe gas velocity. There are varied hole sizes and hole patterns thatmodify the fireball shape and fire dancing activity, and thereforecontrols the fire usage. Two fire patterns and uses are to be usedinterchangeably with the windscreen base. The last part of the device isa windscreen base, with folding, collapsible, legs, for (1) holding theburner (2) providing a protective windscreen for the flames (3) Providea reflective heat shield for the resting surface located under the base.The first burner pattern has 13 - ⅛-inch holes in a set pattern thatproduces a yellow orange fireball with long dancing fire fingers toproduce a fire similar to a normal wood campfire. The second burner has29{fraction (1/16)}-inch holes in a set pattern that produces a brighterYellow flame that is uniform and steady, it produces a cleaner moreuniform heat and light with less flicker.

[0014] With this invention the state of the art is improved by using around tube as a manifold built to prevent any mixing of gas with airbefore ignition, and bent in a annular shape allowing the placement oforifices of different sizes and angles to construct and control makingof the fireball.

[0015] With this invention the state of the art is improved by usingaluminum that reflects and dissipates the heat and is bent in a shapethat decreases the susceptibility to the effects of the wind.

[0016] With this invention the state of the art is improved by using aprocess that produces a compact, light, easy to manufacture portablecampfire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying Drawings which are part of the specifications:

[0018]FIG. 1: is a top view of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2: is a Side view of the present invention with the foldinglegs in an extended position.

[0020]FIG. 3: is a Side view of the present invention with the foldinglegs in the retracted position for storage.

[0021]FIG. 4: is a top view of the first burner, that produces therealistic wood fire replacement fireball, showing the hole location andpattern.

[0022]FIG. 5: is a top view of the second burner, that produces theuniform non-flickering fireball for heat and cooking, showing the holelocation and pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The Quick and easy campfire of the present invention consists ofa windscreen base, with folding, collapsible, legs, for (1) holding theburner, (2) providing a protective windscreen for the flames, and (3)Provide a reflective heat shield for the resting surface located underthe base. The Scalloped wavy edges of the wind screen Produce multiplevortices in a wind that protect the individual flames and increase thewind protection. The windscreen is made of Aluminum to increase the heatdissipation, increase the corrosion resistance, reduce weight, andshorten the cooling time. The legs are permanently attached to thewindscreen base. The legs interlock and fold to reduce the inventionssize in transport and storage. The interchangeable burners set in thewindscreen base, The burner assemblies consists of a galvanized pipebent in to a 12-inch circle with an input aperture connected to theflexible input hose and a plug in the terminating end. The preferredburner pattern has 13 each—⅛-inch holes in a set pattern that produces ayellow orange fireball with long dancing fire fingers to produce a firesimilar to a normal wood campfire. The second burner has 29{fraction(1/16)}-inch holes in a set pattern that produces a brighter Yellowflame that is uniform and steady, it produces a cleaner more uniformheat and light with less flicker. The device is fueled by portablebottles of propane gas connected thru a variable, high-pressureregulator that is used to adjust the fireball size. The regulator isattached thru a flexible hose to the burner assembly. Theinterchangeable burners allow the device to be used to produce anaesthetically pleasing wood fire replacement flame or a steady heatsource for cooking. The integral windscreen base with folding legs allowfor maximum portability in folding into a compact 14 inch by 14 inch by4 inch package for transportation and storage that weighs only 5 lbs.Because the functionality is in the aesthetics of the fireball and isnot dependant on artificial logs or fillers to shape the fire, thisallows the device to radiate more BTU's and reduces the internal heat ofthe device, which allows the device to cool quickly and to be packedwithin 10 minutes of usage.

[0024] The parts of the present invention are: □Item 1) the flexiblehose and a variable regulator. Consisting of a high-pressure propaneregulator varying from 0 to 10 PSI. the regulator comes with a standardhand tight POL or new style green connector (high capacity Type I) onthe gas bottle end and a female ¼ inch NPT on the outlet end. The hoseis a 6 foot synthetic high-pressure gas hose with a male ¼ inch normalpipe thread on one end and a ⅜ inch swivel on the other end. This itemis shown connected to the burner in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

[0025] Item 2) is the folding legs, consisting of 2 each {fraction(3/16)} inch galvanized steel rods 36 inches long and bent to form thewinged shape with the flat stops shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. They areadjusted to clip, with self provided spring tension into the {fraction(3/16)} inch holes located in the bent ears on the bottom of thewindscreen base (Item 4).

[0026] Item 3) is the burner, It consists of a ¾ inch thin wallgalvanized steel tube, bent into a 12 inch diameter circle. There is abrass plug (Item 6 FIG. 4, and 5) cut oversize and pressure fit into theend of the tube then crimped. The input end has a brass plug (Item 5FIG. 4, and 5) that is pressure fit into the input end and crimped, thisplug has a thru hole that is threaded to mate a connector to the{fraction (3/8 )} inch swivel fitting on the flexible hose. The usagewill determine which hole pattern is needed. The burners areinterchangeable. The hole patterns are shown in (FIG. 4, and 5) and aredrilled into the tube. FIG. 4 shows the first burner that has 13 (item 7FIG. 4) ⅛-inch holes drilled in the illustrated pattern this produces ayellow orange fireball with long dancing fire fingers to produce a firesimilar to a normal wood campfire, seven holes are drilled straight upin the top of the tube, the alternating 6 holes are drilled on a 45degree angle to the inside of the top of the tube. FIG. 5 shows thesecond burner, which has 29 (item 8 FIG. 5) {fraction (1/16)}-inch holesin the demonstrated pattern this produces a brighter Yellow flame thatis uniform and steady, it produces a cleaner more uniform heat and lightwith less flicker. There are 15 holes that are drilled straight up inthe top of the tube, the alternating 14 holes are drilled on a 45 degreeangle to the inside of the top of the tube. The burner that is beingused just sets in the windscreen base (Item 4) and the input end of theburner extends thru a hole in the side of the windscreen base.

[0027] Item 4) is the windscreen base, it consists of a 16 inch diametercircle cut out of {fraction (1/16)} inch aluminum plate that has theouter 2 inches forged up to form a windscreen. The preferred pattern hasthe appearance of a large bottle cap. The Scalloped, wavy, edges of thewindscreen produce a multiplicity of vortices in a wind that protect theindividual flames and increase the wind protection. The final appearancecan be varied without changing the fit or function of the essentialclaims of this device. There are five holes in the Windscreen, four{fraction (3/16)}-inch holes in the bottom that have small ⅝×¾ inch tabshalf punched around them that are bend down, and receive the foldinglegs. The fifth hole is located in the sidewall even with the bottom; itis oblong in shape and sized to pass the burner pipe.

[0028] With all the above-described parts assembled as shown in FIG. #1,the input regulator is connected to a propane tank with the hand tightconnector. The gas on the tank is turned on and then the regulator isslowly turned up while a lighting devise is held to the first hole onthe burner, when it lights the flame on the first hole should beadjusted to about 2 inches in height, at that time the lighting deviceshould be sequentially moved to the remaining holes to light them all.If this is not done the fireball will ignite in a dramatic fashion.After the fire is started use the variable regulator to adjust thecampfire to the desired level. After you are finished enjoying the smokefree, safe fire turn of the tank valve off and then close the regulator.Let the device cool approximately 10 minutes before handling. At thatpoint the device can be unscrewed from the gas supply and the legs canbe folded up and the device can stored with no other cleanup needed.

I claim:
 1. a portable campfire comprising: a pressurized fuel source; awindscreen body that supports and protects the burner and flames; aburner that lays in the windscreen body and becomes the source of thevisual form that is the campfire fireball; folding legs that connect tothe windscreen body to space the campfire off the ground surface andprovide stability to the windscreen body.
 2. The portable campfire as inclaim 1, wherein the pressurized fuel source comprises; a pressurizedfuel source, a high-pressure regulator and a high pressure hose totransport the fuel to the burner.
 3. The portable campfire as in claim1, wherein the windscreen body comprises; an aluminum plate to form thewindscreen.
 4. The portable campfire as in claim 3, wherein the aluminumplate reflects and dissipates the heat.
 5. The portable campfire as inclaim 3, wherein the aluminum plate is bent in a shape that hasirregular edges that produce a multiplicity of vortices that buffer thewind interface with the flames on the burner;
 6. The portable campfireas in claim 1, wherein a round tube is used as a manifold built withouta primary air source to prevent any mixing of gas with air beforeignition.
 7. The portable campfire as in claim 6, wherein the round tubeis bent in a annular shape allowing the placement of orifices ofdifferent sizes and angles to control the gas, each orifice in themanifold produces an individual flame that when taken in totality formsthe shape, texture, and activity that is the campfire fireball.
 8. Theportable campfire as in claim 6, wherein the round tube of the manifoldis sized to reduce the gas velocity without the need for an inputrestriction orifice.
 9. The portable campfire as in claim 1, wherein thefolding legs comprises a bent rod sturdy enough to support the device,shaped to provide a wide support base with appropriate ground spacingand further said legs interlock and fold for compact storage.